As illness spreads, it's not too late to get vaccine, doctor says

Thursday

Jan 27, 2011 at 3:19 PM

For the past two weeks, outpatient visits because of flu-like symptoms increased noticeably, showing that while it was a later start this year, flu season likely is here.

The flu is continuing to make the rounds in North Carolina, according to the latest snapshot from state health officials.Flu was widespread in the state last week. For the past two weeks, outpatient visits because of flu-like symptoms increased noticeably, showing that while it was a later start this year, flu season likely is here. For the week ending Jan. 22, according to the latest weekly report, patient visits for influenza-like illness increased to 4.3 percent at outpatient clinics and hospital emergency departments that participate in the state's flu monitoring network.Wilmington pediatrician David Hill said he wasn't surprised about the recent upticks in the state reports."We've been seeing tons of flu in the office," said Hill, of Cape Fear Pediatrics, adding that more than a dozen sick children with flu-like symptoms have come in since Saturday. "Very few of the (rapid flu diagnostic) tests I sent off came back negative."He said January also was an active time for colds.While both cold and flu are respiratory illnesses and have similar symptoms such as fever, aches and cough, symptoms typically are more intense with the flu, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Like other health providers and area health departments, the practice still has flu vaccines available to try and ward off the virus.Hill said this season's flu vaccine appears to be effective at guarding against the main strains of the virus that are circulating. "There's still plenty of time to get protected against the flu," he said.Two deaths have been linked to the flu in North Carolina since October. The first one reported this season was earlier this month after a 15-year-old who had not received a vaccination had complications from a flu infection.Of the 171 flu virus isolates the state's public health lab has tested since October from sick patients, 80 were the H1N1 strain that emerged as a threat in the last flu season.Another common strain seen was the influenza B type. Both are included in this year's flu vaccine.

Vicky Eckenrode: 343-2339On Twitter.com: @vickyeckenrode

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